Biochemical characterization of atherosclerotic plaque constituents using FTIR spectroscopy and histology

The behavior of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is believed to be closely related to plaque composition. There is a need for an effective in vivo technique for examining plaque constituent properties. In this study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) was used to assess and analyze the biochemical properties of human atherosclerotic plaques. FTIR spectra clearly revealed prominent spectral features corresponding to plaque constituents of interest: the 2930 cm(-1) and 2850 cm(-1) peaks (indicating the presence of lipids), the 1730 cm(-1) peak (lipid esters), the 1550 cm(-1) and 1650 cm(-1) peaks (fibrous tissues), and the 1100-1000 cm(-1) broad phosphate peak (calcification). Spectral data examined on a qualitative basis correlated well with both gross tissue anatomy and histologic features. Gross spatial mappings of tissue sections of both lipidic and calcified plaques were performed. Spectra from various regions of the plaques demonstrated the evolution of lipid peaks, fibrous tissue peaks, and the phosphate calcification band within the plaques. Histologic analysis corroborated the spectral findings in this study.     

The effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on human endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors after one year of use

Thirty-four women bearing a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, 20 micrograms/day (LNG-IUD-20), for 12-15 months were recruited. Endometrial biopsies were collected during the late proliferative phase of the cycle (on cycle days 10-12) before (control) and after the use of the IUD for 12 months, and assayed for oestrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). An immunohistochemical technique with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase detection system (PAP method) was employed. D75 and JZB39 were the primary antibodies for ER and PR respectively. The immunostaining semiquantitative analysis was performed with a computerized microscope image processor, and expressed as 'grey value'. Both endometrial ER and PR populations were significantly lower after insertion of the IUD (P < 0.01) than in control biopsies. The intensity of nuclear staining and the percentage of positively stained cells for ER and PR in women with LNG-IUD were each about 50% of those in control biopsies. The results suggested that LNG released locally from the IUD has a depressive action on the ER and PR, which may contribute to the contraceptive effectiveness of this type of IUD and also to the possible causes of LNG-IUD-induced irregular bleeding and amenorrhoea.     

Germinal center and activated b-cell profiles separate Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in AIDS and non-AIDS cases

Morphologic features of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) overlap. No single phenotypic marker or molecular abnormality is pathognomonic. We tested a panel of 8 germinal center (GC) and activated B-cell (ABC) markers for their ability to separate BL and DLBCL. We diagnosed 16 BL and 39 DLBCL cases from 21 patients with AIDS and 34 without AIDS based on traditional morphologic criteria, Ki-67 proliferative index, and c-myc rearrangement (fluorescence in situ hybridization). After immunohistochemically staining tissue microarrays of BL and DLBCL for markers of GC (bcl-6, CD10, cyclin H) and ABC (MUM1, CD138, PAK1, CD44, bcl-2), we scored each case for the percentage of positive cells. Hierarchical clustering yielded 2 major clusters significantly associated with morphologic diagnosis (P < .001). For comparison, we plotted the sum of the GC scores and ABC scores for each case as x and y data points. This revealed a high-GC/low-ABC group and a low-GC/high-ABC group that were associated significantly with morphologic diagnosis (P < .001). Protein expression of multiple GC and ABC markers can separate BL and DLBCL.     

Immune effector mechanism in parasitic infections

In this article is a summary of our recent findings on the role of nitric oxide (NO) as an effector mechanism against the intracellular parasite, Leishmania major. NO is produced in large amounts in murine macrophages following activation by IFNgamma synthesized by Th1 cells. NO production is inhibited by IL-4, a product of Th2 cells. A set of stable cell surface markers has now been identified. ST2L and IL-18R are selectively expressed on Th2 and Th1 cells respectively. Antibody against ST2L can down-regulate Th2 cells in the highly susceptible BALB/c mice leading to control of otherwise fatal L. major infection. These results show directly the critical role of the balance between Th1 and Th2 cells in cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

A novel negative regulator for IL-1 receptor and Toll-like receptor 4

The Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) superfamily, defined by the presence of an intracellular TIR domain, initiates innate immunity via NF-kappaB activation, leading to production of proinflammatory cytokines. ST2 is a member of the TIR family that does not activate NF-kappaB and has been suggested as an important effector molecule of type 2 T helper cell responses. We have recently demonstrated that the membrane bound form of ST2 (ST2L) negatively regulated IL-1RI and TLR4 but not TLR3 signaling by sequestrating the adaptors MyD88 and Mal. In contrast to wild-type mice, ST2 deficient mice failed to develop endotoxin tolerance. Thus, ST2 suppresses IL-1R and TLR4 signaling via MyD88- and Mal-dependent pathways and modulates innate immunity. The results provide a molecular explanation for the role of ST2 in T(H)2 responses since inhibition of TLRs will promote a T(H)2 response and also identify ST2 as a key regulator of endotoxin tolerance.     

Mice lacking the norepinephrine transporter are supersensitive to psychostimulants

The action of norepinephrine (NE) is terminated, in part, by its uptake into presynaptic noradrenergic neurons by the plasma-membrane NE transporter (NET), which is a target for antidepressants and psychostimulants. Disruption of the NET gene in mice prolonged the clearance of NE and elevated extracellular levels of this catecholamine. In a classical test for antidepressant drugs, the NET-deficient (NET-/-) animals behaved like antidepressant-treated wild-type mice. Mutants were hyper-responsive to locomotor stimulation by cocaine or amphetamine. These responses were accompanied by dopamine D2/D3 receptor supersensitivity. Thus altering NET expression significantly modulates midbrain dopaminergic function, an effect that may be an important component of the actions of antidepressants and psychostimulants.     

组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂TIMP—2基因转染对胃癌细胞体内外侵袭能 …

了解ＴＩＭＰ－２基因转地胃癌细胞侵袭行为的影响，进行阻断肿瘤细胞侵转移的筛选尝试。     

软组织平滑肌肉瘤中p16基因的甲基化检测

目的 探讨软组织平滑肌肉瘤（ＬＭＳ）中p16基因ＩＮＫ４Ａ的甲基化状态及其与p16表达的关系。方法 应用ＭＳＰ法检测３８例软组织平滑肌肉瘤,１０例平滑肌瘤及５例正常平滑肌组织中p16基因ＩＮＫ４Ａ的甲基化状态,用免疫组织化学ＳＰ方法检测p16蛋白表达情况。结果 ３８例ＬＭＳ中９例发生异常甲基化,异常甲基化率为２３.7%（９／３８）。其中,７例p16蛋白表达阴性,２例p16蛋白弱阳性,在p16蛋白表达阴性的ＬＭＳ中,异常甲基化率为５０％（７／１４）。结论 p16基因第一外显子启动子区５‘CpG岛的异常甲基化是导致p16基因失活、蛋白缺如的重要基因外机制,并可能参与肿瘤的发生。     

Effects of synergistic reinforcement and absorbable fiber strength on hydroxyapatite bone cement

Approximately a million bone grafts are performed each year in the United States, and this number is expected to increase rapidly as the population ages. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) can intimately adapt to the bone cavity and harden to form resorbable hydroxyapatite with excellent osteoconductivity and bone-replacement capability. The objective of this study was to develop a strong CPC using synergistic reinforcement via suture fibers and chitosan, and to determine the fiber strength-CPC composite strength relationship. Biopolymer chitosan and cut suture filaments were randomly mixed into CPC. Both suture filaments and composite were immersed in a physiological solution. After 1-day immersion, cement flexural strengths (mean +/- SD; n = 6) were: (2.7 +/- 0.8) MPa for CPC control; (11.2 +/- 1.0) MPa for CPC-chitosan; (17.7 +/- 4.4) MPa for CPC-fiber composite; and (40.5 +/- 5.8) MPa for CPC-chitosan-fiber composite. They are significantly different from each other (Tukey's at 0.95). The strength increase from chitosan and fiber together in CPC was much more than that from either fiber or chitosan alone. The composite strength became (9.8 +/- 0.6) MPa at 35-day immersion and (4.2 +/- 0.7) MPa at 119 days, comparable to reported strengths for sintered porous hydroxyapatite implants and cancellous bone. After suture fiber dissolution, long macropore channels were formed in CPC suitable for cell migration and tissue ingrowth. A semiempirical relationship between suture fiber strength S(F) and composite strength S(C) were obtained: S(C) = 14.1 + 0.047 S(F), with R = 0.92. In summary, this study achieved substantial synergistic effects by combining random suture filaments and chitosan in CPC. This may help extend the use of the moldable, in situ hardening hydroxyapatite to moderate stress-bearing orthopedic applications. The long macropore channels in CPC should be advantageous for cell infiltration and bone ingrowth than conventional random pores and spherical pores.     

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to cryptic collagen sites by using subtractive immunization

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a fundamental role in the regulation of normal and pathological processes. The most abundantly expressed component found in the ECM is collagen. Triple helical collagen is known to be highly resistant to proteolytic cleavage except by members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of enzymes. To date little is known concerning the biochemical consequences of collagen metabolism on human diseases. This is due in part to the lack of specific reagents that can distinguish between proteolyzed and triple helical forms of collagen. Here we used the technique of Subtractive Immunization (SI) to generate two unique monoclonal antibodies (MAbs HUIV26 and HUI77) that react with denatured and proteolyzed forms of collagen, but show little if any reaction with triple helical collagen. Importantly, HUIV26 and HUI77 react with cryptic sites within the ECM of human melanoma tumors, demonstrating their utility for immunohistochemical analysis in vivo. Thus, the generation of these novel MAbs not only identify specific cryptic epitopes within triple helical collagen, but also provide important new reagents for studying the roles of collagen remodeling in normal as well as pathological processes.